Outdoor Reception Fun: Lawn Games

Maybe it's our complete giddiness over the glorious sunshine we're finally enjoying here in North Texas, but we cannot stop thinking about outdoor weddings! This is one of the loveliest times of year here in the South for outdoor ceremonies and receptions but the torrential rains we've had all but put the kibosh on that! NO more - hooray! So that has us thinking about all the wonderful things about outdoor celebrations - enjoying milder weather, taking in beautiful scenery, dancing under the stars and playing lawn games! That's right - lawn games!

Lawn games are fantastic to have available during cocktail hour, giving your guests something fun to do while sipping and noshing so you and your wedding party can finish up photos! While lawn games will feel like a better fit for a less formal affair, most people love games and the "usuals" aren't so physically demanding that they can't be playing in wedding attire. And, let's be honest, lawn games make for some stinkin' cute photo opportunities!

 

Cornhole (or Corntoss or Bean Bag Toss) is always a favorite and it's simple.



 

Another standard is Croquet!

Bocce Ball or Lawn Bowling, anyone?

Who doesn't love Jenga? Make it epic with Outdoor Giant Jenga!

Ring Toss or Horseshoes are classics that anyone can master.

Another crowd pleaser that possibly not everyone has seen is Ladder Golf.

Whether or not you can incorporate such good times in your wedding reception will depend, of course, on your venue. Check with your facility contact to see if they're open to gaming during your celebration! And get out there and enjoy this sunshine!


image credits (all via Style Me Pretty): Anne Marie Photography, Austin Warnock, Brett Heidebrecht, Carrie Patterson, Christian Oth Studio, Claudia McDade Photography, Erin Hearts Court, Honey Honey Photography, Jasmine Lee Photography, Krista A. Jones, Marianne Wilson Photography, Mike Larson Private Estate Weddings and Our Labor of Love

Trends We Love: The Turndown or "To-Go" Gift/Favor

Welcome bags have long been considered a "must-have" for any wedding couple expecting lots of out-of-town guests. At Weddings by StarDust, we still do quite a bit of them for our wedding planning clients, but another fun trend we've been seeing more is the turndown gift or the to-go favor. Brides and grooms will pay the hotel staff to place a small token of appreciation on the pillows of their wedding guests as a nice surprise when they return to their rooms. Some ideas: chocolates or an eye mask.

This is extra-cute with a note wishing your guests Sweet Dreams!

Encourage your guests to sleep tight with a room darkening eye mask.

Another twist on this is the to-go favor. Newlyweds enlist the valet team to place a little special something in their guests' cars or on the shuttles to hotels. Some ideas are a CD of special songs that will remind guests of the evening's celebration, a late-night snack or breakfast in a box or a hangover or recovery kit! Get creative - your imagination is the limit!

For a fun surprise, have the valet put the CD on to play when the guest gets in the car!

What could be better than having breakfast at your guests' fingertips first thing the morning after?!

Donuts make a great late-night snack or breakfast the next day.

Mmmm...donuts and milk - the perfect marriage!

Wedding reception recovery kit: vitamin water (plain water will do), Tylenol, mints, Alka-Seltzer, Vitamin C and anything else you can think of to make the morning after easier on your guests.

If you love the idea of incorporating special touches like these throughout your wedding weekend but aren't sure where to begin, considering consulting one of our fantastically creative wedding planners! Weddings by StarDust planners make wedding planning easy and fun! Book your appointment for a consultation online.

Real Wedding: Jenna and John's Big Fun Italian Wedding

Last year, our talented Weddings by StarDust team designed and planned an over-the-top Italian celebration for fun-loving Jenna and John. This past November, we got to see the event come to fruition in fabulous fashion. Jenna hails from a large New York Italian family, and while John is not Italian, family is very important to him, as well, so they wanted their reception to resemble a very large family dinner party. We developed an over-the-top Italian feast atmosphere with a color palette of ivory, blush and gold, and full of incredible Italian food, lush, aromatic flowers and lots of fantastic music. You see, Jenna is a country music singer, so really good music was vital to their celebration. Bella Flora knocked the stunning floral out of the park, and the dance floor was packed the whole night, thanks to The Jam Wows and Marcus Rollins. Photographers Jenny and Eddie Martell were on hand to capture all the great moments. Here are some of them - feast your eyes on this!

Jenna looked simply gorgeous in her YSA Makino gown. We love that lace with the subtly colored liner!

Mother of the Bride (MOB) Joanne looked nearly as stunning in her VM for Mori Lee black lace gown.

The traditional Catholic Mass Ceremony was just lovely.

We love this twist on the guest sign-in!

The Four Seasons was the perfect location for this beautiful reception!

The cake so pretty! We still adore monograms!

Groom John is a filmmaker - check out his cool cake!

The lighting, linens and floral were so sophisticated and striking!

The specialty sweets table was a huge hit!

Aren't they just adorable?! We love seeing our couples so happy!

The Jam Wows brought it!

Off to Bora Bora with a sparkler sendoff on the Four Seasons golf cart!

Big thanks to our fantastic vendor team:
Beauty: Michael Gonzalez for bride and MOB's hair/makeup; Elan for bridesmaids' hair
Bridal Apparel/Accessories: YSA Makino gown, fuzzy shawl and Paris earrings from StarDust Celebrations
Cakes: bride's - Delicious Cakes; groom's - Fancy Cakes by Lauren
Ceremony Music: Stradivarius Strings
Ceremony Venue: St. Ann Catholic Parish
Floral: Bella Flora
Lighting: Marcus Rollins
Linens: Seat by Design; cake linens through Bella Flora
Mother of the Bride Apparel: VM for Mori Lee gown from StarDust Celebrations
Photography: Jenny Martel
Photo Booth: Picstrips
Reception Music: band The Jam Wows!; DJ/Emcee Marcus Rollins
Reception Venue: Four Seasons Resort Dallas at Las Colinas
Rentals: dance floor, band façade and steps - DFW Dance Floors
Stationery: StarDust Celebrations
Transportation: Blue Diamond
Treat Table (favors): mini pies - Crème de la Cookie; other sweets flown in from NY the day prior to the wedding
Videography: RC Studios
Wedding Design and Planning: Weddings by StarDust